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Facebook launches free voice calls in UK via mobile app

Facebook has launched free voice calling as part of its iOS Messenger app in the UK.

The service debuted in North America in January this year but has now been added to the UK versions of Facebook Messenger on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

To use the service, navigate to the required contact and select the "i" icon in the top right hand corner and then click on the Free Call option. If the person is unavailable or not using the service the option is greyed out. The system supports international calling, meaning a UK user can now freely chat to a US-based friend. "When you call, your friend will get a notification and hear a ringtone if they have their phone's volume on," said a Facebook representative. "They can swipe through the notification or open Messenger to answer your call. If they miss the call, they will see a note when they return to the conversation indicating that you tried to reach them."

Free Call is a VoIP service, similar to Skype, meaning that the app uses your device's internet connection to route the call rather than a traditional telephone network. The service is reportedly only available on iOS devices. There is no official information regarding the rollout of an Android version at the current time.